What motivates incidents at height within a custodial setting? Perceptions of those who have perpetrated incidents

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Purpose Incidents at height (IAH) within a prison setting, including incidents where prisoners climb onto netting or bars in-between prison landings and rooftop protests, have steadily been increasing in recent years. Considering relevant motivations may aid in proactive changes to prevent future occurrences. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research was undertaken through semi-structured interviews with a sample of four Category B male prisoners who had perpetrated IAH with a short duration. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used. Findings Motivations for the sample appeared instrumental and conflict driven and subordinate themes noted following analysis were that engaging in an incident at height was perceived by the sample as the only way to be heard/listened to, a means of gaining control over a situation they lacked control in, linked to staff’s management techniques and being the less serious behavioural option available. Findings are discussed in relation to theories of prison misconduct including general strain theory, social proof theory, importation theory and environmental factors. Research limitations/implications Potentially those with more crises driven and expressive motivations may remain at height for an extended period requiring a more structured negotiation approach to manage heightened emotions (Vecchi et al., 2005). This may be a focus for future research to determine whether incident length is suggestive of different motivations and management approaches. It may also be beneficial to replicate this research to consider motivations across different populations and locations. Practical implications Potential consideration could be given to ways in which prisoners can feel listened to. Staff being more compassionate and transparent about wait times for access to services and this being more widely publicised, may also assist in reducing reactive incidents. Findings outlined a perception that staff lacked interest, understanding or concern. Ensuring staff adhere to the principles of rehabilitative culture and show understanding for the prisoner’s experiences may improve their responses and the prisoners’ perceptions and create a culture where individuals feel able to manage strains more effectively. Originality/value Research considering potential motivations behind IAH within custodial settings is currently limited and enables consideration of potential preventative measures or incident management approaches.